The 49ers-Seahawks escalating rivalry: The NFL’s two most talented teams, with sights clearly set on each other

You make personnel moves to try to improve your team as much as possible, not necessarily to match or scare your top rival, though that second part is probably pretty fun, too, I would guess.

So while I preach that NFL teams have to stick to their own plans in the spring movement period–which is now–and not try to hunt headlines and match any opponent’s splashy moves, and while I believe the 49ers and Seattle front offices are both sharp and not tempted to play the costly one-up-manship game…

There are probably some entertaining elements of hey-hated-rival-look-at-who-we-got going on the last few days between the 49ers and Seahawks, who happen to share a division and immediate title aspirations, and this will certainly continue through the free-agent phase and of course into the on-field skirmishes in the fall.

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Which is a good thing, if done wisely, and by all measurement, the Seahawks and 49ers are doing some smart things right now and have done them for a few years.

That’s how they’ve both accrued so much talent, why they both are dangerous teams, and why both know that the other is the prime obstacle for future bountiful success.

(Pending St. Louis Rams improvements, and yes, they are getting better and better, too. What a division this is turning into. Sorry about that, Arizona.)

49ers-Seahawks is turning into New England vs. Indianapolis during the Peyton-Brady hey-day. Or Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore over the last decade-plus.

The best news about all that hot-rivalry history for the 49ers and Seahawks: Those four teams jousted with each other and went on to win 8 of the last 13 Super Bowls and either New England, Indy, Baltimore or Pittsburgh has represented the AFC in 12 of the last 13 Roman Numeral Games (and the last 10 in a row).

Yes, barring a rash of injuries to either franchise, I believe the 49ers (who are on a 1-in-a-row Super Bowl streak) and Seahawks could and maybe should end up making multiple Super Bowl runs over the next 5 to 7 years.

And I believe both franchises know it, love it, and–watching the other team beef up their depth charts–are a little afraid of it.

Again, that’s all tremendous stuff, and wait ’til they play each other in 2013, because it will only get better.

It’s about acquiring the best talent as wisely as possible, and Asomugha, if he comes at a discount, is a tall corner who can do some things–only less well (so he will be paid much less) than in the recent past.

Earlier this week, Seattle acquired star receiver Percy Harvin; a few hours later, the 49ers acquired WR Anquan Boldin; I don’t think either thing was a reaction to the other, but it was very interesting, nevertheless.

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At that point, I declared that these were now the two most talented teams in the NFL (with Baltimore losing a gusher of talent), and since then things have only gotten more interesting in the West.

Yesterday, the 49ers signed DT Glenn Dorsey to a very economical 2-year deal, reportedly worth about $7M.

And then Seattle signed DL Cliff Avril–maybe the most valued young lineman on the market–to a 2-year, $15M deal, which seems like an amazingly good price for such a talented player.

Today, I would imagine the 49ers are going to sign a DB or two–maybe Asomugha, probably a free safety in there somewhere, maybe even future Hall of Famer Ed Reed. (I thought LaRon Landry was a good fit for the 49ers, but he signed with Indianapolis.)

I’m not saying the teams are only doing these moves to counter the other–that’s essentially the opposite of what I’m saying. I think the two teams are going like mad to get better based on their own decisions… but that those decisions are largely AIMED at the other. That’s the difference and that’s the andrenaline-rush.

There will be more moves, more jousting, more fun… because the 49ers and Seahawks are both good, they’re both very aggressive, and they’re both so talented that they know any one move could be the one that puts them over the top… or else the move by their rival could be the one that kills them.

Now, none of those stats mean anything going forward, but exactly what in the last 11 years has given you the deluded feeling of superiority over us? And if you have to go back to the 1980′s, you are proving my point.

Michael P. White

I am a Seattle born niner fan for a heck of a long time(Since hurricane hugh, joe the jet, y.a. tittle, and John henry johnson and rc owens were playing. SF used to play one preseason game every year in Seattle. I of course switched my NFC allegiance to Seattle, when they entered the NFC. I tend to rate both defenses as equal, but on the offensive side the 49ers come up a bit short at running back, receiver, and qb. Kaep is a bit faster than wilson, whereas wilson is way quicker, Both are highly accurate passers. Both are really smart. What separates them is Kaep can get excited at times and choke as he did in the SB. Wilson.s pulse rate is the same in a game as his sleep rate Don’t want to hear about the non call. They were both pushing and shoving each other and it was a poor throw that would not a have
been caught sans contact

TRad

It’s clear that durign Erickson-Nolan-Singleterry years Seattle was much better team than Niners. It’s undebatable.

It is also clear that Harbaugh’s 49ers are better than Carrol’s Hawks. The difference isn’t as big as in 2003-2010 period – but significant.

So maybe we could end this p***ing contest, eh?

John

Everyone looks to a bad call at the end of the GB game and says the refs gave the game to the Hawks. They don’t say any thing about the bad calls on the previous GB drive that gave them the go ahead score. If not for a couple bad calls on that drive then GB never had a lead at the end of the game and Seattle probably would have run out the clock. My point, refs make horrible calls that change the outcome of the game all the time, not just replacements but full time refs too. One bad call didn’t make or break either teams season.

craig

I was a Seattle born niner fan before there was a Seahawk Team. I remember when they trained at Redwood City High School. Yo
u could go to the Saddle Room a couple blocks east on Woodside Blvd and hang with the team after practice, As long as you were buying. John Brody was a good guy. Cedrick Hardman was friendliest player.

These two teams becoming as good as they are helps the Left Coast. With really good teams out west, maybe the league will start paying attentio n to east coast early games for us.

You folks in SF have to get used to the folks up north coming down and whipping you once in a while. For football the time is now.
.

Col Bat Guano

TRad, how is it clear the 49ers are better than the Seahawks. Do the Hawks need to apply another 29 point beat down to realize these teams are evenly matched?

TRad

@Col Bat Guano

Just try to count on fingers (you might have to use these on your feet too) how many games was 49ers won in the last two years – and how games was won Seahawks.

Repeat the procedure for playoffs games.

Repeat the procedure for NFC Championships appearances.

Repeat the procedure for Super Bowl appearances.

Repeat the procedure for SF-Sea games during these two seasons.

Seahaws are a great team and this season they could easily win NFC West and Super Bowl. It’s absolutely possible. You may argue that they are Top3 team in NFL and I wouldn’t disagree. You may argue they are THE best team in NFL – I would disagree, but it’s debatable. But when we are disputing which team had better last two seasons – sorry, the facts are stubborn. It’s Niners.

bindara

Can’t wait for season to start. Love my hawks but niners are my number 2 team. Both great teams. I’m hoping my hawks will continue the thumping we did last game, can’t lie! Good luck to both teams in the nfc best!

tom y

All of the fans on here calling the other teams city cutesy insulting names mean nothing. The 49ers fans claim a lot of success, but they’ be won nothing
yet. Second place is still first loser. Making claims that one quarterback will have a better career is pointless. There is no way to know. Just enjoy the intensity and the games and stop the juvenile name- calling. As a Steeler fan, I’ve enjoyed the rivalry with the Ravens, hating yet respecting them at the same time. As an adult should.